November 16, 2009
Making a Difference
Arlington Benefits from Vista Volunteers
They come all over: Florida, Missouri, West
Texas, just up the road in Plano. They sign up as
Vista staffers through the volunteer organization
AmeriCorp. This year, Arlington is the beneficiary
of their service. Six Vista volunteers are working
through the public library, teaching ESL, GED,
pre-school reading and computer literacy classes.
“What’s great is how this program works hand in hand
with the City of Arlington,” said Literacy
Coordinator Yoko Matsumoto. “The volunteers are able
to enhance their skills in an already established
program and we get the benefit of fresh ideas from
workers who really care about what they’re doing.”
Based throughout the public library system,
volunteers plan and implement special literacy
programs and projects, recruit, train and manage
other reading tutors for adult programs, and help
promote early reading in pre-school and
elementary-age children.
On a recent Thursday evening at the East Arlington
Branch Library, volunteer Minh Do taught young
students in The Learning Zone, an after-school
tutoring program. Three other Vista volunteers,
Kayce Green, Virginia Tran and Rebekah Welch, taught
ESL classes next door. At the Central Library,
Tiffany King was teaching a GED class.
Meanwhile King and another volunteer, Cheirieamour
Smith, participate in a workplace literacy program
that organizes skill classes for adult learners and
prepares basic computer literacy classes.
“Seeing the light come on in these people’s eyes is
a powerful experience,” said King, a Florida native
who left a corporate job for AmeriCorp.
Vista members (Vista means Volunteers in Service to
America) commit to serve full-time for a year on
specific projects at nonprofit organizations. About
6,500 Vistas are placed each year in more than 1,200
projects around the country, Matsumoto said.
In return for service, they receive a modest living
allowance and health benefits with the option of an
education award or one-time stipend.
“I wanted to get involved in something at more of a
grassroots level because you’re able to get right to
the heart of the issue,” said Welch of Amarillo.
“There’s nothing more worthwhile than this.”
Learn more about Americorps at
www.americorps.gov.
|
|
|
